March 28, 2017, North York, Ontario – The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) today announced that Nick Campoli of the North York Rangers has been named the recipient of the OJHL Top Prospect Award as selected by NHL Central Scouting.
The 18-year old native of Etobicoke, Ontario made an immediate impact on his club’s line-up this season after missing more than half the year due to a serious injury sustained during the 2015-16 season. The 6′, 200 lbs. speedy forward proved that scouts were accurate in continuing to list him in the rankings despite not having played early-on.
“A skilled offensive center who is a strong skater with deceptive speed and quickness. Campoli has very good offensive hockey sense with his vision, smarts and anticipation to get open and set up plays,” said Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr. “He has a quick accurate wrist shot to finish scoring chances. When he is not contributing offensively he contributes in other ways as he excels at winning face-offs and competes playing a gritty two-way game. He has used his time in the OJHL to develop his overall game, handle adversity and prepare himself for the next stage of his hockey career.”
Campoli’s return from injury came just in time to be named to the Final Selection Camp with Team Canada East for the 2016 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. Although an uphill battle after missing months of hockey, he returned to the Rangers ready to play and starting on November 27, with an opening game two point effort, Campoli went on a 10-game point scoring streak to kick-off his season. In 20 regular season games played, he would fail to record a point just three times and finished the year tied for fifth in scoring on the club with 32 points, including 10 power play points and 2 game-winning goals.
The 2nd year OJHL forward would be named a member of Team East for the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game held in Cornwall, Ontario and in January was slotted 111th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings. Following the season Campoli was named an OJHL 2nd Team All-Prospect and he is committed to join the Clarkson University Golden Knights beginning next season.
The OJHL Top Prospect Award is awarded annually to the player selected by NHL Central Scouting as the top-ranked draft eligible prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft.
Matthew Kellenberger of the Oakville Blades has been named runner-up to Campoli as OJHL Top Prospect.
The 18-year old rookie rearguard led the Blades d-corps with 10 goals, also ranking among the top 15 blueliners in the entire OJHL, and finished second on Oakville’s blueline in scoring with 28 points in 51 games played. Kellenberger was named a member of Team East at the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game and was ranked 165th overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the mid-season rankings. Following the season, he was named to an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect and is committed to the Princeton University Tigers for the 2018-19 season.
“He is a skilled, puck moving defenceman with dynamic skating ability who can transition, lead the rush & carry the play both quickly and effectively,” said Marr. “Kellenberger possesses a good feel for the game and a sense of timing to make the heads-up plays under pressure. He demonstrates very good puck skills and play-making ability by quarterbacking the power play and creating scoring chances. His overall game has developed tremendously over the course of this season and will continue to develop as he gets stronger. He has a bright future in hockey.”
The OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Year Award recipient will be announced on Thursday.
2016-17 OJHL Award Winners
Award Winner Runner-Up
Top Scorer Jack Jacome (GEO) Brayden Stortz (WEL)
Top Goaltender Stefano Durante (COB) Josh Astorino (GEO)
Executive Greg Walters (GEO) Brent Tully (COB)
Humanitarian Kyle Clarke (NYR) Josh Maguire (COB)
Trainer Sarah Ditmars (TRE) Amanda Gilroy (WHI)
Volunteer Lorna Burrows (STO) Joe Goldenberg (NYR)
Coach Greg Walters (GEO) Mark Jooris (BUR)
Most Improved Ryan Casselman (COB) Ryan Heeps (WHI)
Scholastic Lee Lapid (PAT) Erik Urbank (BUF)
Gentlemanly Nik Coric (WHI) Philip Lagunov (BUR)
Defenceman Brennan Roy (COB) Mark Paolini (STM)
Prospect Nick Campoli (NYR) Matthew Kellenberger (OAK)
Previous OJHL Top Prospect Recipients
Year Winner Runner-Up
2015-16 Matthew Cairns (GEO) Josh Dickinson (GEO)
2014-15 Will Reilly (NYR) Callum Fryer (AUR)
2013-14 Jake Walman (TOR) Jake Evans (STM)
2012-13 Matt Buckles (STM) Troy Josephs (STM)
2011-12 Devin Shore (WHI) James de Haas (TLP)
